By rights — Right Right, n. [AS. right. See {Right}, a.] 1. That which is right or correct. Specifically: (a) The straight course; adherence to duty; obedience to lawful authority, divine or human; freedom from guilt, the opposite of moral wrong. (b) A true… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

by rights — adverb Properly, in justice. The post of vice president should, by rights, have been given to John. Syn: by all rights, in fairness … Wiktionary

by rights — if things are done as they should be By rights, we should split the profits among the three of us … English dictionary